Escape from the Cage of Fate

"Sophia! Even if you're on your deathbed, you better give birth to that damn child!"

The door slammed shut with a deafening bang, plunging the room into complete darkness.

Sophia Brown lay curled up on the floor, her body covered in bruises, her hands raw and bloody as she pounded the ground in frustration. She stared at the closed door, feeling utterly hopeless.

No! She must not die here! A fire on the cruise ship had wiped out the Brown family. Their fortune was stolen, and her father and two brothers were reduced to ashes. Her mother, Evelyn Thomas, was taken away by her uncle, Chase Brown, and used as leverage against her. Sophia had become a fugitive, a shadow of her former self.

Every bit of it was Chase's doing!

Under Chase's mismanagement, the Brown Group was drowning in debt, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Desperate to forge a connection with the immensely wealthy Mitchell family, Chase had drugged Sophia and sent her to Philip Mitchell, the heir to the Mitchell fortune.

What was supposed to be a one-night stand had resulted in her becoming pregnant with Philip's child.

Sophia lay on the floor, her hair a tangled mess, her eyes burning with hatred.

The door opened again.

Emily Brown, dressed to the nines, strutted in on high heels, her face twisted in annoyance. She kicked Sophia's shoulder.

"Hey, stop playing dead. The Brown family is spending a fortune on supplements for you. If you die, all that money goes to waste."

Silence was her only response.

Emily's perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed. She grabbed a handful of supplements from a nearby table.

"Father and the others aren't here today. You're all mine. Great!"

She yanked Sophia's hair, her eyes filled with malice, and forcefully shoved the supplements into Sophia's mouth.

"Eat! Eat it, you bitch!"

"Just one night with Mr. Mitchell and you got pregnant! You're such a slut!"

"When you give birth, I'm going to have your uterus fed to the dogs!"

Sophia struggled with all her might, her body shifting slightly away. A glint of light caught her eye. She grabbed a shard of glass, bloodied and sharp, and aimed it at Emily's neck. She missed the vital spot, only managing to cut Emily's arm.

Emily screamed in pain, clutching her wound, her eyes glaring at Sophia, who looked like a vengeful ghost.

In the dim light, Sophia saw Emily's expression clearly. There was no fear on Sophia's face, only a bloodthirsty determination.

"Sophia! You're insane!"

"You dare hurt me? When my parents get back, they'll make you suffer!"

"All they want is the child in your belly. Just you wait!"

Emily shot Sophia a venomous look and turned to leave, but Sophia wasn't about to give her that chance.

Sophia quickly stepped forward, pressing the bloody glass shard to Emily's neck.

"Move, and I'll send you to meet the Grim Reaper."

Her voice was as cold as ice.

The chill of the glass against her neck made Emily break out in a cold sweat. She looked down at the shard in disbelief.

"I...I am warning you, if you hurt me...!"

The glass pressed closer, drawing a thin line of blood from Emily's neck.

Now she was certain Sophia wasn't bluffing.

"Don't kill me! I won't move, I won't move!"

"I'll do whatever you want, just don't kill me!"

Emily's body trembled, her pants wet with fear. Sophia ignored her pathetic state.

With Chase gone, this was her only chance to escape!

"I remember you have a car nearby. Take me to it."

Emily didn't dare resist and complied, praying Chase would come to her rescue.

To avoid drawing attention, Sophia found a large coat to cover herself. She held the glass shard through Emily's clothes, pressing it against her back.

As long as Emily did anything stupid, Sophia would make sure she suffered.

Most of the servants were on the east side, leaving the west side relatively empty.

"Sophia, I advise you to go back. If you leave today, my father will never let you off easy. You'll only suffer more."

Sophia scoffed at her words.

"What, you think I'm not suffering enough already?"

Emily didn't reply, her eyes darting around for an escape route.

The Brown family was in financial ruin, and the child in Sophia's belly was their only hope for revival. If Sophia escaped, Emily would be held responsible.

The sunlight, after two months of confinement, felt like a distant memory. Sophia had been living like an animal in the basement, and now, just a short walk had left her exhausted.

No! She had to escape!

Almost there!

The door was open!

"Sophia's gone mad! She's trying to escape! Someone, catch her!"

Emily seized the moment, shoving Sophia away and running off. Her shout drew immediate attention.

Panic flashed in Sophia's eyes, but she gritted her teeth and ran through the door, slipping on ill-fitting shoes.

She grabbed the car keys, opened the door, started the engine, and sped away.

She'd rather die than stay here!

Watching the car disappear, Emily panicked.

"It's over!"

She quickly called Chase.

"Dad! Sophia's escaped!"

Chase's face darkened instantly.

"Mobilize everyone and bring her back."

He hung up, gripping his phone tightly.

When they caught Sophia, he would personally make sure she never walked again.

Sophia drove recklessly, glancing in the rearview mirror at the black car chasing her.

At this rate, they'd catch her!

She glanced at the GPS and made a sharp turn towards the most luxurious mall in town.

Opulence Mall was packed with people.

"Thank you all for joining us for Opulence Mall's second anniversary celebration. Our chairman, Mr. Philip Mitchell, is here to oversee the event. Let's wish Opulence Mall continued success!"

The host's voice was met with applause.

Sophia didn't care. She crashed through the mall's barrier, smashing parked cars in the lot.

If she was going to make a scene, she'd make it big!

The noise drew everyone's attention.

Sophia jumped out of the car, rushed into the elevator, and pressed the top floor button. If she could escape the Brown family's clutches, there was still hope!

She stumbled out of the elevator, found a room, and locked herself in. The silence was a relief.

Was she finally safe?

Sophia collapsed to the floor, exhausted, and slowly looked up into a pair of cold, icy eyes.

"Ms. Brown."

"Long time no see."

It was him!

Sophia tried to move, but her body wouldn't cooperate. The memory of that brutal night was still fresh.

The man in the suit stood up and walked over, his gaze icy as he looked at her face, then her belly.

"Sophia, I underestimated you."

"Whose child are you carrying?"

The moment she saw Philip, the memories of that night hit her like a tidal wave, suffocating her.

"Get away! Get away from me!"

"Grab her! Tonight, send her to Philip's room!"

Sophia's arms were pinned down like a bird in a cage, her body weak and powerless.

Her jaw was pried open, and several cups of strong liquor were forced down her throat.

"Being with Philip is an honor for you. After tonight, the Brown Group will definitely get the compensation!"

The triumphant laughter of the Brown family echoed in her ears, her vision growing increasingly blurry.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Philip, completely naked.

He looked down at her as if she were a stray dog.

Before Sophia could speak, a large hand gripped her neck tightly.

Her clothes, barely hanging on her shoulders, were torn to shreds by Philip. Sophia wanted to cry out in protest, but could only manage muffled whimpers.

The pressure on her shoulders and the pain of being penetrated filled her entire body.

The endless pain and pounding made Sophia think she was going to die.

After the night, a handful of money fell from the air.

"Consider yourself sold to me for tonight. Don't get any funny ideas."

"Sophia, pretending not to know me?"

The memories flooded back as she looked up at Philip.

Humiliation, disgust, and embarrassment surged within her.

Sophia forced a smile, her pale lips curling up.

"How could I not recognize the business tycoon Philip Mitchell?"

She glanced around, regained a bit of strength, and stood up.

"Mr. Mitchell, it is an accident that I come to your territory. I won't disturb your work. I'll be leaving now."

She turned and pulled open a crack in the door, but a large hand reached over her shoulder and held the door shut.

"Mr. Mitchell, what are you..."

Philip's right hand gripped Sophia's neck and pulled her back, causing her to fall into his arms like a broken doll.

Meeting his snake-like, sinister eyes, Sophia felt a wave of fear.

Everyone in high society knew Philip was a complete lunatic!

Suddenly, a cold sensation came from her neck, and Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She knew very well that what was pressed against her neck was a knife!

"Philip, what are you trying to do?"

Sophia tried to remain calm, her eyes constantly searching for a chance to escape.

The Brown family had used such methods to toy with him; he wouldn't let her off easily!

Philip's eyes were filled with amusement.

"Ms. Brown, I just want to know whose child you are carrying."

Sophia froze, humiliation and shame flooding her heart.

"What do you mean? Do you think I have other men?"

The cold knife slid down Sophia's neck, lingering at her collarbone.

The blade occasionally pricked her skin, but Philip showed no signs of stopping.

The top button of her shirt met the knife and instantly snapped, her neckline opening wide.

"Philip!"

Sophia cried out, trying to resist, but Philip was faster. His left hand tightly gripped her wrists, holding them in his palm.

All control of her body was in his hands.

He suddenly turned the knife, raising his hand high, his gaze turning fierce, and aimed it at Sophia's abdomen.

"Mr. Mitchell! Mr. Mitchell!"

The door suddenly opened, and several men in black rushed in. The one shouting pushed his hand between the knife and Sophia's abdomen.

A fraction closer, and both his hand and Sophia's stomach would have been pierced.

"Mr. Mitchell! You can't!"

"We went through great lengths to find Ms. Brown for the sake of the child she's carrying!"

The speaker had some silver hair, appearing much older than Philip.

Sophia gasped for breath, still in shock.

If no one had come in, would she already be a corpse?

He really was a madman!

Taking advantage of the conversation, Sophia seized the moment to escape from Philip's grasp, but was stopped at the door by the old man.

"Ms. Brown, you can't leave yet. I'm Eli, the Mitchell family butler. You're carrying the Mitchell family's child, and we need to ensure you deliver the baby safely."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Sophia from head to toe.

"Given your current physical condition, you need to recuperate, or it will affect the baby's health."

Sophia's hands slowly clenched into fists at her sides, calculating the likelihood of Philip killing her.

Her uneasy gaze fell on Philip.

Philip raised his eyes, squinting slightly, and sneered.

"I thought you were more capable. Afraid of dying?"

"Everyone fears death."

Especially since she couldn't die!

"Sophia, someone wants you alive, but I want the child in your belly dead. What should we do?"

A chilling sensation shot from Sophia's feet to the top of her head. This madman would definitely do it!

Given her current physical state, an abortion would leave her with lasting health issues, and who knows how long it would take to recover.

Every extra day meant those villains lived peacefully for another day!

Hatred intertwined in her heart, Sophia steeled herself and met his cold gaze.

"I can't abort this baby."

The words made everyone tense; even Eli broke out in a cold sweat.

He had barely managed to save her from Philip's hands, and this statement might provoke Philip's anger.

"Can't abort?"

Philip's tone was emotionless, eerily calm.

The approaching figure made Sophia feel like a heavy stone was pressing on her chest.

With Eli stepping in, there must be someone behind him wanting to protect this child. Sophia was gambling, gambling that someone cared about her life.

Eli rushed in front of Philip, "Mr. Philip Mitchell, have you forgotten what Mrs. Rhea Mitchell said?"

Mentioning this, Philip's eyes grew increasingly complex.

"A barely formed embryo, you can't abort it, I'll cut it out."

"Sophia, do you think you'll survive?"

Sophia's pupils contracted, she turned to run, but her arm was grabbed and she was pulled into his arms, her hands pinned down.

She was carried and thrown into a car; no matter what anyone said, Philip remained unmoved.

"Philip, are you insane?!"

"So noisy. If you don't want me to cut you open now, shut up!"

Sophia broke out in a cold sweat. This madman wasn't joking.

"Philip, tell me what you want. I can give you anything, except this child. If I abort now, I'll die!"

Hearing this, Philip sneered.

"Wouldn't that be perfect for me?"

Sophia's heart sank completely. Philip was truly insane!

The car sped to the Mitchell family's property, where a fleet of cars was already parked.

"Mrs. Mitchell, they've arrived."